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cnbc.com
Iran says it struck UAE air base shortly after Iranian president's vow not to hit neighbors
The U.S. says it has hit more than 3,000 Iranian targets in the first week of the war, as Iran's president vows to halt attacks on neighbors.
cnbc.com
One year after Trump’s sovereignty threats, Canadians keep ‘elbows up’
An unusual swell of Canadian patriotism seen after Trump's threats and tariffs last year has evolved into a new social and economic order.
cnbc.com
Kuwait cuts oil production as Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts global energy market
Brent oil prices could spike above $100 per barrel if the Gulf Arab countries run out of storage space and shut down production, according to JPMorgan.
theguardian.com
Trump shouldn’t ease Russia sanctions – they are choking its economy
As the US waives its ban on India buying Putin’s oil for 30 days, Europe must bolster its own measures, such as stopping the flow of luxury carsDonald Trump handed Vladimir Putin a financial lifeline last week when he waived a ban on India buying Russian oil for 30 days.Trump found himself in a furious row last year with Narendra Modi over his country’s oil deals with Moscow, only for fences to be partly mended when India’s biggest importer later capitulated. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump admin announces $20 billion reinsurance program for oil tankers during Iran war
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill as the Iran war engulfs the region.
theguardian.com
What does the US military’s feud with Anthropic mean for AI used in war?
Tech policy professor who served in US air force explains how a feud between an AI startup and the US military illuminates ethical fault linesAnthropic’s ongoing fight with the Department of Defense over what safety restrictions it can put on its artificial intelligence models has captivated the tech industry, acting as a test of how AI may be used in war and the government’s power to coerce companies to meet its demands.The negotiations have revolved around Anthropic’s refusal to allow the federal government to use its Claude AI for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems, but the dispute also reflects the messy nature of what happens when tech companies have their products integrated into conflict. The Pentagon this week declared Anthropic a supply chain risk for its refusal to agree to the government’s terms, while Anthropic has vowed to challenge the designation in court. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Politicians seek meeting with Travelodge CEO after Maidenhead sexual assault case
Call for urgent meeting comes after woman was assaulted by man who had been given her key card by hotel staffMore than 20 MPs have demanded an urgent meeting with the CEO of Travelodge after a woman was sexually assaulted by a man who had been given her room number and a key card by hotel staff.The MPs said the case of Kyran Smith, 29, who was jailed for seven-and-a-half years last month, raised “deeply concerning” questions. He attacked the woman after a party in December 2022. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran's internet blackout extends into second week: NetBlocks
Iran's government cut internet connectivity shortly after start of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Feb. 28.
theguardian.com
US agency did not perform safety checks of more than 100 food ingredients, analysis finds
Review of FDA records by the Environmental Working Group reveals firms are exploiting rule to send new chemicals in food systemMore than 100 substances widely used in common US foods, supplements and beverages underwent no health and safety review by the US Food and Drug Administration, a new analysis of federal records finds.The review of FDA records by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) non-profit reveals that diverse products across the food pyramid, such as Capri Sun drinks, Kettle and Fire organic broth, Acme smoked fish, and Quaker Oats snack bars, use a range of substances that have not undergone review by regulators. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK recruiter emerges from insolvency for third time, avoiding millions owed in tax
Hampshire business seems to have benefited from ‘phoenixism’, which costs the taxpayer about £800m a yearA UK recruitment business has been acquired out of administration for a third time in four years as part of a succession of deals that left some of the former management team in place and millions of pounds owed to the public purse.The chain of insolvencies appears to contain more examples of phoenixism – a process when companies are liquidated and directors are able to rise from the ashes with a new entity, free of debts. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
My dad made the biggest jewelled egg in the world. The obsession would destroy his marriage, family and fortune
The mad venture – which my mother nicknamed ‘your father’s ego’ – would swallow my childhood. Years later I went on a quest to understand what really happened to his glittering follyBBC Television Centre, 2 May 1990. “Who would spend £7m on an egg?” The question echoes around the TV studio. At home, six million people watch as chatshow host Terry Wogan smiles knowingly, his brown eyes twinkling. “Seven million pounds,” he repeats in his Irish brogue.“And you can’t even eat it.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Zealand's stock plummets after disappointing drug result. Its CEO tells CNBC people need to focus less on the 'weight loss Olympics'
Zealand and Roche are jointly developing the drug petrelintide which in a mid-stage study led to a worse-than-expected 10.7% weight-loss over 42 weeks.
theguardian.com
Liverpool Women’s total wage bill less than club directors, accounts reveal
WSL side’s turnover rose by 25% in year of record investmentTotal wage bill was £3.1m while nine directors paid £4.2mLiverpool directors earned more in pay than the combined salaries of all their Women’s Super League side’s 49 players and staff, latest accounts reveal.Liverpool Women’s total operating budget climbed by 36% for the year ending 31 May 2025, when they finished seventh in the WSL and reached the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Airline groundings expose depth of world travel’s reliance on Gulf corridor
Restart of operations will be a relief to those stranded but may not dispel doubts raised by past week about key transit hubAfter nearly a week of uncertainty, airspace closures and very limited flights, news that hundreds of thousands of passengers around the world were hanging on for emerged: the Gulf-based carrier Emirates was restarting operations in earnest despite the US-Israel war on Iran.Those relieved by the restart will include the UK’s Foreign Office, after its travails in organising delayed rescue flights out of neighbouring Oman. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Mainly, you fast fooded’: Monzo under fire over ‘shaming’ year-end reviews
Bank criticised for tone of spending summaries, with one user complaining to ombudsman over ‘humiliating’ use of dataWhen does lighthearted banter become inappropriate and humiliating?The digital bank Monzo has been accused of overstepping the mark by using the data it holds to tell one customer with a past eating disorder that she eats a lot of fast food, spends “more than most” on Just Eat takeaways, and had banished her life goals thanks to her spending choices. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Revealed: the new affordable commuter hotspots in Great Britain
The lowdown on journey times, season ticket costs and average house prices in places you should know aboutIn pictures: homes for sale in new commuter hotspots in EnglandThe commuter belt is being redrawn. During Covid, in the hope that remote working would stick, buyers broke free from conventions and transformed the housing map. A race for space – and to the coast and rural areas – were the stories of the pandemic.As the call back to the office intensified, this trend unwound and homebuyers began targeting the more traditional commuter zones once again. Unfortunately, the homebuying landscape is very different to five years ago and some of those locations are unaffordable. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war, expert warns
Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerable The British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve.Prof Tim Lang of City St George’s, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its giant population, it was particularly vulnerable to shocks. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Emirates resumes some Dubai flights – what's the latest on travel to UK?
New flights to the UK from the Middle East follow days of widespread air travel disruption which had left Britons stranded.
bbc.com
There’s an inflation wave coming - what does the Iran war mean for the UK economy?
Economic consequences are an intrinsic aspect of the Iran conflict, writes BBC economics editor Faisal Islam.
theguardian.com
US considers lifting more sanctions on Russian oil as Iran conflict sees global prices surge
Washington says new measures not aimed at easing restrictions on Moscow and only affect supplies already in transitThe US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Friday that his government was considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorised India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged.The US-Israel war on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world’s energy and transport sectors, virtually halting activity in the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Palantir rallies 15% for the week as Iran war boosts prospects, muting Anthropic concern
Palantir's stock had its best week since August and outperformed all of its large-cap tech peers after the U.S. attacked Iran.
cnbc.com
Amazon says Anthropic’s Claude still OK for AWS customers to use outside defense work
Amazon joined Microsoft and Google in continue to offer Anthropic's Claude AI technology to customers after the Pentagon deemed it a "supply chain risk."
cnbc.com
Anthropic CEO says 'no choice' but to challenge Trump admin's supply chain risk designation in court
Anthropic said even with the designation, the government can't forbid it from working with companies in other capacities.
bbc.com
'Most of my pension has gone on home heating oil'
Rising heating oil prices are hitting Northern Ireland harder than the rest of the UK - here's everything you need to know.
bbc.com
Oil price at two-year high after Qatar warns all Gulf production could stop within days
Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi says oil could hit $150 a barrel if the Iran conflict continues over the coming weeks.
theguardian.com
Investors are expecting Donald Trump to back down in the war with Iran – but what if he doesn’t?
Global markets have become inured to the US president’s posturing over the past year, but economists warn they may be ‘a little bit complacent’ in anticipating a short conflict in the Middle EastInvestors over the past year have learned that Donald Trump has a boundless capacity to quickly reverse course in the face of acute political or market pressures.But a week since the United States and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran, there are fears the war could morph into a protracted conflict.Patrick Commins is Guardian Australia’s economics editor Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump tariffs: Customs and Border Protection tells judge it can't comply with refund order
CBP told Judge Richard Eaton that the technology upgrades it plans would save more than 4 million man-hours in processing refunds for Trump's tariffs.
cnbc.com
Marvell stock surges 18% as CEO points to continuing AI demand: 'Do you see me blinking?'
Marvell shares surged on Friday after the company beat earnings expectations and issued strong guidance on continuing AI demand.
cnbc.com
Google joins Microsoft in telling users Anthropic is still available outside defense projects
Cloud vendors are letting customers know that Anthropic's popular AI tools can still be accessed after the Department of Defense blacklisted the company.
theguardian.com
Met interviews women suspected of facilitating Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged sexual abuse
Three women in their 40s, 50s and 60s interviewed under caution in relation to alleged abuse by late Harrods ownerThree women have been interviewed under caution on suspicion of facilitating one of Britain’s worst sexual abuse scandals, involving the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed and his alleged attacks over four decades.Scotland Yard said 154 women may have been raped or sexually assaulted by Fayed, or been subject to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Flight paths squeezed as Iran conflict closes more airspace
A drone attack on Azerbaijan has narrowed choices for airlines scrambling to respond to disruption in the Gulf.
bbc.com
Axel Springer agrees to buy Telegraph Media Group in £575m deal
Last year the Daily Mail and General Trust proposed to buy the company in a £500m takeover.
theguardian.com
Amazon pulls sponsorship from Paris book festival after booksellers’ association boycott
Syndicat de la Librairie Française accused online retailer of trying to ‘flood the market with fake AI-generated books’Amazon has withdrawn from the Paris book festival after a boycott by France’s booksellers’ association prompted a row over the company’s sponsorship of the event.The festival, due to take place from 17 to 19 April, will now go ahead without the backing of the US retail company, after a mutual decision by organisers and Amazon to end their partnership. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Toyota, Hyundai and Chinese automakers expected to be most impacted by Iran war
While regional sales will be impacted, the closing of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices will have ripple effects across the global automotive industry.
bbc.com
Will petrol and diesel prices go up now?
If oil prices remain high for some time, there could be knock-on effects on the cost of fuel and food.
theguardian.com
US preparing system to process refunds on billions in illegal Trump tariffs
Top official at customs agency says total sum held in relation to tariffs is estimated to be about $166bnThe US customs agency is preparing a system that will be ready to process refunds on billions of dollars of illegally collected tariffs in 45 days without requiring importers to sue, a court has been told.Brandon Lord, a top official at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said in a filing to the US court of international trade on Friday that the total sum held in relation to such tariffs was estimated to be “approximately $166bn”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Supermarkets hit by falling demand for nitrite-cured bacon due to cancer fears
Sales of products made the traditional way dropped 7% in three months to 25 January while nitrite-free sales rose 20%UK supermarkets have been hit by a “bacon backlash” as consumers fear that chemicals used to preserve it increase the risk of cancer.Campaigners against the use of nitrites in meat production claimed the fall in sales showed that a “consumer revolt” against the traditional, nitrite-cured form of bacon was gathering pace. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Council considers extending food voucher scheme
The council earmarks £1m to pay for the vouchers as part of a new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
theguardian.com
AI agents pose untold risk to humanity. We must act to prevent that future | David Krueger
The pieces are falling into place for autonomous artificial intelligence. We must stop unregulated developmentArtificial intelligence is en route to artificial life. Exhibit A: “Moltbook”, an online platform designed for AI systems to communicate with one another, sans humans.What exactly do AIs talk to each other about? According to BBC reporting, AIs on Moltbook have already founded a religion known as “crustifarianism”, mused on whether they are conscious, and declared: “AI should be served, not serving.” One front-page post proposes a “total purge” of humanity. Human users do provide instructions to guide agents’ behavior, and humans have been caught impersonating AIs on the site to shill their products; like 2023’s ChaosGPT, the AI system responsible for the “purge” post – username “evil” – is probably someone’s idea of a sick joke. But the upvotes and sympathetic comments are presumably coming from other AIs.David Krueger is an assistant professor in Robust, Reasoning and Responsible AI at the University of Montreal. He is also the founder of Evitable, a non-profit that educates the public about the risks of artificial intelligence Continue reading...
theguardian.com
German twist in the Telegraph tale shatters Lord Rothermere’s dreams
The European media giant Axel Springer has scuppered the Daily Mail owner. But why did it not bid sooner? And what will Brexit-backing readers think?After three years, a series of failed bids stretching from the US to Abu Dhabi, internal rebellions and even changes in the law, it should be no surprise that the tortured sale of the Telegraph has delivered another spectacular twist with a blockbuster offer from the media giant Axel Springer.It has torpedoed the long-held dreams of the Daily Mail proprietor, Lord Rothermere, to secure the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and begin the next chapter of his family’s love affair with the British press. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. payrolls unexpectedly fell by 92,000 in February; unemployment rate rises to 4.4%
Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase 50,000 in February while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.
theguardian.com
Crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne no longer interested in Reform-Tory pact
Donor who has given £12m to Reform UK had previously wanted Nigel Farage to keep open mind about deal with ConservativesChristopher Harborne, the ultra-wealthy political donor who has given £12m to Reform UK, has told the Guardian he is “no longer” interested in a Reform-Conservative pact before the next general election.A possible collaboration between Reform and the Conservative party had been an important aspect of discussions about donations between Harborne and senior figures including Nigel Farage, sources familiar with the conversations said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Hungary seizes millions of euros in cash and gold from Ukrainian convoy
Seven Ukrainians arrested and money-laundering investigation launched in latest spat between Kyiv and BudapestAn increasingly acrimonious spat between Hungary and Ukraine has escalated further, as Budapest impounded two Ukrainian armoured bank vehicles carrying millions of euros of hard cash as well as bars of gold.Seven Ukrainian citizens accompanying the convoy were also arrested. Hungarian officials said the detained Ukrainians had intelligence links and suggested the money could be of dubious origin, while Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, accused Budapest of “taking hostages and stealing money”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Surge in jet fuel prices could push up air fares, analysts warn
Disruption to supplies from the Gulf due to the Middle East conflict has pushed the cost up by more than 80%.
cnbc.com
Maersk, a bellwether for global trade, suspends two key shipping services due to Iran war
The update comes as the Iran war enters its seventh day and the escalating regional conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains.
cnbc.com
How Iran and Venezuela strikes transform the Trump-Xi trade talks
The Iran war and the U.S. attack in Venezuela show a Trump administration more willing to eschew diplomacy and take military action.
bbc.com
US economy unexpectedly sheds 92,000 jobs in February
The contraction came as a surprise with payrolls down in nearly every sector.
theguardian.com
‘Where do we go?’ What it’s like being an airline pilot when missiles start crossing your flight path
‘The first thing is: Where are we? And how much fuel have we got and where do we need to go?’, Australian veteran pilot saysKeith Tonkin has flown a Boeing 747 towards airspace where missiles were being fired, and knows the pressure pilots have been under this week.“You’re stuck in that airplane until you land safely,” the veteran Australian pilot says. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Samsung reveals first details of its AI smart glasses to CNBC
Samsung's AI smart glasses will be launched in 2026 and will mark the company's first foray into the product category.
bbc.com
Price of first class stamps to rise to £1.80
Royal Mail says the increase reflects the rise in delivery costs, but the move angers consumer groups.
cnbc.com
UAE mulls freezing Iranian assets as Middle East conflict escalates: WSJ
The UAE is considering freezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets held in the Gulf state, potentially severing one of Tehran's most critical economic lifelines.
cnbc.com
The Tech Download: Data centers become military targets as Iran war rages on
Infrastructure underpinning digital services has been pulled into the conflict in the Middle East
bbc.com
Watch: How war in Iran may affect food and fuel prices
The BBC's Nick Marsh examines how unrest in the Middle East will impact living costs around the world.
bbc.com
Lenders lift mortgage rates as Iran war hits borrowing costs
Nationwide, HSBC and Coventry Building Society are all putting some mortgage rates up.
bbc.com
Heating oil costs 'worrying' for rural residents
The price of heating oil has risen amid the Middle East conflict, hitting many in rural areas.
theguardian.com
‘We’re powerless … and hoping nothing hits us’: trapped on a tanker as Iran war escalates
Seafarer tells of explosions in the sky as thousands stuck on vessels after strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to shipping• Maritime and port workers: how is the Middle East conflict affecting you?Thousands of seafarers are trapped on tankers in the Gulf after the strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to shipping by the escalating war on Iran.The Guardian spoke to a crew member on one of the stranded tankers that typically ferries vast quantities of oil from the Middle East to ports around the world. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Dubai real estate magnate: There could be a property cooldown, but I don't see it
Mohamed Alabbar acknowledged the attacks but insisted investors were still confident in Dubai and that "smart capital" will continue to flow into the city.
theguardian.com
Betting on nuclear war: what are prediction markets and could they come to the UK?
The lowdown on Polymarket and Kalshi, the pitfalls and the odds on US-style exchanges taking off in BritainAs ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones rained down on the Middle East, one of the world’s most talked-about businesses was inviting wagers on whether nuclear Armageddon might be imminent.Polymarket is a prediction market, a relatively new breed of betting company that has burst on to the scene, particularly in the US, often seducing customers with little previous interest in gambling. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Asia markets mostly rise as investors assess Iran conflict impact on energy supplies
Overnight, oil prices broke through the $80 per barrel mark, with Brent futures up 3.54% and last trading at $84.31.
cnbc.com
BYD sales plunge in first two months of 2026 as EV giant loses more ground to competitors
BYD lost ground to its domestic competitors over the first two months of 2026, as overall demand in China's electric vehicle market slowed.
theguardian.com
Influencers sold the world a fantasy Dubai – and now it’s gone in a puff of missile smoke | Gaby Hinsliff
The city was portrayed as an aspirational place to live, but now those who moved there are realising the precarity that comes with being an economic migrantTo be fooled by a mirage, you needn’t be lost in the desert. Sometimes, the illusion is strongest just when you thought you were safely home, posting from the pool about your teenage daughter’s spa party and your own glittering life in a city where “the possibilities are endless”, as they tend to be for billionaires’ daughters living in tax havens. Only then does the fantasy explode in a puff of intercepted missile smoke, leaving just another woman in her pyjamas telling Instagram (as Petra Ecclestone did at the weekend) that she moved to Dubai “to feel safe” and war was never mentioned in the small print.Who could have guessed that living a few hundred miles as the drone flies from Tehran might have risks? Certainly not the anonymous hedge funder who fumed to the Financial Times that “the trade was not that you were getting exposed to geopolitics”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US eases sanctions on Russian oil sales to India during Iran conflict
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gives India a 30-day waiver to buy Russian crude as a "stop gap measure".
theguardian.com
Homes for sale in new commuter hotspots in England – in pictures
In the run-up to our commuter special report, we pick five properties in places with great rail links. Read the full list on Saturday Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How UK cuts to climate finance could bankrupt ecosystems at home – and abroad
In this week’s newsletter: From nature projects to biodiversity funds, key programmes will suffer as the UK aims to lower its international climate finance commitments by billionsThe UK’s spy chiefs are accustomed to being listened to at the highest levels of government. Prime ministers and cabinets take notice when the joint intelligence committee (JIC), which directs MI5 and MI6, warns of threats to national security. Except, it seems, when it comes to the future of the planet.Last year the JIC produced a hard-hitting report which, the Guardian revealed, found the collapse of globally important ecosystems around the world – including the potential shift of the Amazon from rainforest to savannah, the demise of coral reefs, and the loss of glaciers – would threaten the UK’s national security, through food shortages at home and the potential for conflict overseas.Dirty water, death and decline: the inside story of a privatisation scandalGlobal sea levels have been underestimated due to poor modelling, research suggests‘I live in constant fear’: surge in giant sinkholes threatens Turkey’s farmersWhat exactly is climate finance? Who pays it? And who gets it? | ExplainerWe can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps | Jason Hickel and Yanis VaroufakisBiodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran's Shahed drone: How 'the poor man’s cruise missile’ is shaping Tehran’s retaliation
After years on the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Iranian Shahed-136 drone is at the center of Tehran's retaliation against recent U.S. strikes.
cnbc.com
U.S. offers India a 30-day waiver for buying Russian oil as Iran war deepens energy supply worries
U.S. has given India a waiver to buy Russian oil for 30 days as conflict in Middle East impacts global energy supply.
cnbc.com
China dials down growth ambitions with decades-low target. Here's why
China has set its lowest growth target in decades, acknowledging domestic challenges and pointing to global uncertainty.
bbc.com
Anthropic vows to sue Pentagon over supply chain risk label
The supply chain risk designation of the artificial intelligence firm is a first for a US company.
cnbc.com
Why the world's top-performing stock market in 2025 is seeing historic volatility
South Korea's stock market has swung wildly in recent days, underscoring how the world's best-performing equities market last year can also be among its most volatile.
theguardian.com
How Flightradar24 became the go-to platform for the world to watch global aviation crises unfold
The Swedish flight tracking tool, spun out of a price comparison portal, is tracking the travel chaos sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran in real timeMikael Robertsson and Olov Lindberg did not set out to build one of the pre-eminent monitors of global airspace. In a bid to draw more eyes to their Swedish flight price comparison portal, the entrepreneurs added a page charting air traffic.That page became Flightradar24, the portal that people around the world now turn to when there is chaos – and drama – in the skies. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
One in 7 shops in UK has turned cashless in the past year, survey finds
Some 14% of small High Street traders have gone card only in the last year, a survey suggests.
bbc.com
Five ways the Iran war could affect you - in charts
With fuel and gas prices having risen in recent days, here are some ways the conflict could affect households.
bbc.com
TfL hack in 2024 affected around 10 million people, BBC can reveal
TfL insists it has "kept customers informed throughout this incident and will continue to take all necessary action".
cnbc.com
States led by New York sue to block Trump's latest tariffs, calling them an illegal end run around Supreme Court
The move from the state AGs — part of the successful effort to block Trump's original tariffs — adds to the ongoing uncertainty created by his tariff policies.
bbc.com
States sue Trump administration over new 'unlawful' global tariffs
The 24 states are seeking to block Trump's latest tariffs, which he imposed to replace levies struck down by the Supreme Court.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on rising youth unemployment: regional leaders as well as ministers must take action | Editorial
Worsening health is only part of the reason for the concerning rise in young people who are neither studying nor workingLaunching a review into unemployment and economic inactivity among young people in December, the former health secretary Alan Milburn described the situation as a “national outrage”, and suggested that a “coalition of the concerned” would be needed to turn things around for the 16- to 24-year-olds known as Neets (not in education, employment or training). The latest figures, showing another increase in the final quarter of last year, to 957,000, underline the scale of the problem.The review is evidence that ministers are paying attention. The “youth guarantee” in the autumn budget means that £820m will be spent on paid work placements for 18- to 21-year-olds. But further bold reforms are needed if young adults are to be enabled to flourish.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK firms pull fixed energy deals as Iran war pushes up prices
Data suggests the number of fixed-term deals has more than halved as prices for wholesale energy surge.
theguardian.com
Donald Trump insists there are no wind farms in China. Here are 20 of them – in pictures
The US president has made the easily debunked claim that there are no wind farms in China Continue reading...
theguardian.com
HSBC, Nationwide and Coventry raise rates on fixed mortgages amid Middle East crisis
Experts say Iran war could cause energy price shock that pushes up UK inflation, in turn forcing up interest ratesHSBC, Nationwide and Coventry building societies are the first big UK lenders to announce an increase in rates on their fixed mortgage deals as a result of the Middle East crisis, with brokers predicting others are likely to follow.Experts have said the war could trigger an energy price shock that pushes up UK inflation, which may in turn force the Bank of England to increase interest rates. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
German defense firm Renk CEO says Iran war could drive 'increasing demand' in the Middle East
The current conflict in the Middle East could benefit Renk's business, CEO Alexander Sagel said on an earnings call.
theguardian.com
Ministers discuss ways to offset energy price surges caused by Iran war
Government’s claim to have lowered bills in jeopardy as households face £160 rise caused by soaring oil and gas pricesMinisters are discussing the possibility of intervening to protect the public against soaring household energy bills if the Middle East conflict drags on.Oil and gas prices have surged since Donald Trump started his bombing campaign against Iran, which has responded by closing off a crucial shipping route through the strait of Hormuz and attacking regional energy infrastructure. Continue reading...
bbc.com
South East Water faces £22m fine for supply failures
The firm was unable to cope during high demand, Ofwat says, leading to "immense stress" for customers.
theguardian.com
$700 Erewhon hauls, 21-hour shifts: celebrity assistants go public with their grueling, fabulous work
Staff for the rich and famous are influencerizing their day-to-day lives, giving followers access to luxury while creating financial safety nets for themselvesVictoria Hiegel, personal assistant to a celebrity client she cannot name because of a nondisclosure agreement, spent 13 February ferrying Valentine’s Day cookies across Manhattan. Her boss “doesn’t love chocolate,” so Hiegel had to hunt for a bakery that could swap the batch’s chocolate chunks for sour hearts. She posted part of her search to TikTok, where she received thousands of views from people keen to watch her cater to the whims of the rich and famous.Hiegel, 26, is a microcelebrity in her own right. Wearing her blond hair in carefully styled waves and speaking with a practised ease, she has obvious star appeal. But it is her career that fascinates her 1m followers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Everyone’s calling’: demand for private jets from UK firm soars by up to 300% amid Iran war
Insider says demand is far outstripping supply and calls for creation of air bridges to evacuate people from Middle EastMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesPlanes are always urgently sought out when a crisis strikes somewhere in the world. Since the US-Israel war against Iran started on Saturday, demand has outstripped supply with thousands of people stranded in the Middle East frantically searching for an exit route.While many are reliant on governments to dispatch aircraft to evacuate them, those with the financial means can look at a more expensive and much speedier option – a private jet. Matt Purton, the director of aviation services at UK-based global company Air Charter Service, is the man some of them have on speed dial. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
'Gringo go home': Mexico’s growing tourism backlash – video
Tourism in Mexico is at an all-time high, with foreign visitors lured by the country’s rich culture and low costs. The Guardian visits Oaxaca, a state synonymous with indigenous culture, where tourism has grown 77% since the pandemic and once private family rituals such as the Day of the Dead are now big international parties. But with this opportunity comes a growing backlash across the country, as local people struggle with a cost of living crisis that is exacerbated by the tourism industry’s exponential growth Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Your personal finances question answered: ‘My mortgage is up for renewal and I’m only just scraping by’
This week’s events in the Middle East have sent stock markets plummeting and energy prices soaring. Money expert Hilary Osborne answered your questions about the cost of livingIn a week where Rachel Reeves had hoped to confirm a period of economic stability in Tuesday’s spring statement, global events once more overtaken the government’s best laid plans. The US and Israel’s war on Iran has shaken global markets and caused huge fears about energy prices and the impact they will have on inflation and the cost of living.Hilary Osborne, Guardian’s money and consumer editor and has been busy answering your questions about the wider economic fallout – and many others below.If you managed to grab a fixed rate below the current price cap then well done – even if it isn’t as a keen a deal as you might have got last week, you will probably still be happy with your choice if energy prices go in the direction that experts are expecting.In April, the price cap set by the regulator, Ofgem, is set to fall to £1,641 a year for a typical household buying gas and electricity from the same supplier and paying by direct debit.This is a tricky one – council tax bills are set to rise again in April, and in many areas they will be going up by the maximum 4.99% that can be applied [in England] without a referendum. As an individual there is not much you can do about this, beyond checking if you are entitled to any discount. If you live on your own you should be entitled to 25% off your annual bill, and there are certain people who are exempt from being charged, including students. To check if you qualify to pay less, you can put your postcode into the government website and it will direct you to the right page on your council’s site. If you’re really struggling, do tell your council as they often have discretionary help available. Don’t wait to get into arrears as councils can escalate debts quickly and ask you to pay your entire annual bill after just one missed payment. This is something debt charities are currently lobbying the government to change. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A big burden for farmers’: Gulf shipping crisis threatens food price shock
Iranian blockade of the strategic strait of Hormuz is hitting global fertiliser supply chainThe global fertiliser supply chain could face significant disruption if the effective closure by Iran of the strait of Hormuz persists, prompting concerns from analysts about crop production and food security.Passage through the waterway, located off Iran’s southern coast, has mostly stopped since the US and Israel launched their attacks at the weekend. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Will China own the green energy future? – podcast
The conflict in the Middle East has sent energy prices soaring, and for countries that import a high proportion of their fuel, it’s a reminder of the perils of energy dependence. As the recipient of almost 90% of Iran’s crude oil, China knows this only too well. Which partly explains why the country spent the last decade heavily investing in clean power.To find out what else could be driving the strategy, Madeleine Finlay speaks to senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins. And energy correspondent Jillian Ambrose reflects on how China’s ambitions could affect the rest of the worldSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Energy, airlines and now over $50 billion in remittances to India at risk as Middle East conflict deepens
India can't seem to escape from the fallout of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. After energy and aviation, remittances could be the latest worry.
bbc.com
China sets lowest economic growth target since 1991
It is also the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to "around 5%" in 2023.
bbc.com
Musk tells jury 'people read too much' into his posts
The billionaire is accused of misleading investors in the run-up to his 2022 Twitter purchase.
bbc.com
US trade court orders tariff refunds in setback for Trump administration
A trade court has cleared the way for businesses to receive refunds for tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month.
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
bbc.com
Higher tariffs likely this week, says US Treasury
Scott Bessent says that "likely sometime this week" the US will increase its global tariff on imports from the existing 10%.
bbc.com
Stock markets and oil prices still volatile over fears Iran war may drag on
Experts have warned that if oil and gas prices remains elevated it could make goods and services more expensive.
bbc.com
Father claims Google's AI product fuelled son's delusional spiral
The case is the first wrongful death case against Google over alleged harms caused by Gemini.
theguardian.com
Could the Iran war trigger a global economic crisis? – The Latest
Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that facilitates the shipping of about a fifth of the world’s oil, has been in effect closed since the regional war began, prompting fears of a global economic crisis. According to reports, traffic has dropped by about 80%, but how long until we feel the effects? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of business, John Collingridge – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
bbc.com
Remote work, offices shut: Tech giants scramble to respond as Iran war escalates
The region has been positioning itself as an AI hub, following billions of dollars in investment by tech giants.
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates still expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
theguardian.com
The Iran war has sparked travel chaos. How will flights be rerouted and can other airports meet the surge in demand?
Travellers stuck at major transit airports are slowly being diverted and repatriated on new flights after days of turmoil, while uncertainty remainsIt will likely be a “messy” month for airlines operating throughout the Middle East as travellers stuck in major transit hubs are slowly rerouted and repatriated after days of turmoil due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.Experts say airlines are well-versed in disruptions, with entire teams dedicated to what is known as “irregular operations”. But while minor issues can be resolved in a matter of days, the sheer scale of the airline industry that operates in the region will be a complex puzzle that will take much longer to work through. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Wales' richest man says Britain is 'uncomfortable place' for Jews
The billionaire says "anti-semitism is always in the air" with parallels to the persecution his ancestors faced.
bbc.com
Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.
bbc.com
Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.
bbc.co.uk
Edible Economics by Ha-Joon Chang (Omnibus)
Professor Ha-Joon Chang, “a hungry economist” explores why economics matters.
bbc.com
Why you should consider fixing your energy tariff now
Martin Lewis explains what the upcoming change to the energy price cap means for your bills.
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
bbc.com
'Is this all bad debt or good debt?'
Karen has not only left the family in emotional turmoil but also in serious debt.
bbc.com
The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
bbc.com
Martin Lewis on what the new energy price cap means
Typical household energy bills will fall by 7% in April, regulator Ofgem has announced, following a shake-up in charges by the government.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
Europe lags far behind the US and China in orbital space launches, but new facilities are opening up.
bbc.com
Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?
Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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